Effect of microstructure and load ratio on fatigue crack growth behavior of advanced Al-Cu-Li-Mg-Ag Alloys

Fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior of recently developed three Al-Cu-Li-Mg-Ag alloys, Weldalite 049, X 2095 and MD 345, was examined in air at load ratios of 0.1 and 0.75. It was found that all three alloys showed better resistance to fatigue crack growth than conventional high strength Al alloys. The morphologies of crack growth paths were generally linear, but some showed deflection and branching. And the alloys revealed rough and transgranular fracture surfaces. Among the factors contributing to the excellent resistance of Al-Cu-Li alloys to fatigue crack growth are enhanced slip reversibility and high surface roughness causing a high crack closure level, thus reducing ΔKeff for crack extension. The fatigue threshold decreased and fatigue crack growth rates increased significantly with increasing the load ratio. This is caused by the decrease in crack closure level at high load ratio. But the fracture mode did not show a significant change with increasing the load ratio.